FAQs Frequently Asked Questions

How to work with the Small Protocol

Question: We are going to use EA’s eDIP240-7 in our products. We have connected the module using the SPI interface clocked at 75 kHz. The messages are exchanged by means of the small protocol. We have the following questions:

1. After sending the command (with DC1 header) we send additional 0xff byte to get the ACK/NACK. In spite of conforming to the 6µs time of clock inactivity, EA eDIP sometimes sends a byte of unknown value (it’s not an ACK and not a NACK). In UART mode the eDIP sends the ACK/NACK when it’s ready to send it, but in SPI mode eDIP is a slave, and the master dictates the moment for sending the acknowledgement. What value is output when this is done too early?Answer: This is not specified.

Question:2. We suspect there’s some time needed to allow eDIP calculate the checksum of a received message and prepare the ACK/NACK byte. How long must it be?Furthermore, this time seems to be dependent on the current eDIP CPU load, i.e. processing of previously received messages.Answer:The calculation takes max. 6µs after receiving the last byte (bcc).It does not depend on the current CPU load because the receive interrupt has the highest priority.

Question:3. Can the -SS be asserted throughout the message transfer or must it return high between subsequent bytes (as is shown in the datasheet)?Answer: No, it’s not necessary but we recommend it.

Question:4. Please clarify the meaning of timeout when receiving a command. Is it the time for receiving a complete message, and if it’s not received within this limit it’s dropped?Answer: Yes.

Question:5. How can we upgrade the firmware in the eDIP?Answer: It is not possible to upgrade the firmware.

I am looking for a help file while working with the KitEditor/KitCompiler

Question: I’ve downloaded and unpacked the LCD TOOLS. I’m working with the KitEditor to program my EA eDIP. Is there any help available besides the datasheet?

Answer:Yes, of course. While working with the KitEditor, just press F1.You will get detailed information about the compiler options and the commands. If you need help on how to work with the available commands practically, you will find many examples in the following LCD TOOLS folder:

Drive:\ELECTRONIC_ASSEMBLY_LCD-Tools-Portable\Data\eDIP ‒ intelligent graphics displays\your eDIP\How to use...Just select a term you are interested in and open the *.kmi file with the help of KitEditor.

Please feel free to get in touch with us if you need any further help or examples.

eDIP240: when using touch panel letters \"R\", \"L\" and \"C\" are not displayed

Question: I have problem with your intelligent LCD EA eDIP240-7. When I try to write using the virtual keyboard, several letters do not print: “R ” – “L ” – “C ”. This always happens in the simulator and also in real embedded applications when I try to write these 3 capital letters. With other letters everything looks OK.

For example (R key ):# AT X,Y, X dX, Y dY “R” 0,”R

Answer: The letters R, L and C stand for right, left and center align. The 1st letter of text is always the alignment and when omitted, then the text will be centered.

So please use CR and CL and CC , for example: # AT X,Y,X dX,Y dY R 0,CR

How to transfer the macro files into the eDIP240?

Question: We are currently designing the EA eDIP240-7 display in one of our products. So far we have programmed the EEPROM on the display using the KitEditor connected to the display via the RS-232. For production reasons we would like to write our own program that programs the EEPROM. Where can I find the specification for the commands that are required to program the EEPROM?

Answer: You can send the created macro file *.eep with any other system to the EA eDIP240-7. All programming commands are in this file, so you only need to send the content of the *.eep file (via RS-232, SPI or I2C with the small protocol in packets) to the EA eDIP240-7.

For Windows/DOS we have a little tool called copycom.exe

Usage (COM1) with the small protocol:

copycom projectname.eep -c1 -b115200 –p

How I am able to display a picture

Question: I use an EA eDIP320J-8LWTP. Now I would like to implement a bitmap for a start-up screen in the display. I installed the EA KIT editor and USB driver.

Answer: The EA KIT editor (ELECRONIC ASSEMBLY LCD Tools) is the right tool for that. When the USB driver is correctly installed , connect the display to the USB.

Open the EA KIT editor and the file ..\ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY LCD Tools\eDIP320-8\Init\INIT.KMC

Just select a term you are interested in and open the *.kmi file with the help of the KitEditor.

Please feel free to get in touch with us if you need any further help examples.

How to work with the Small Protocol

Question: We are going to use EA’s eDIP240-7 in our products. We have connected the module using the SPI interface clocked at 75 kHz. The messages are exchanged by means of the small protocol. We have the following questions:

1. After sending the command (with the DC1 header) we send an additional 0xff byte to get the ACK/NACK. In spite of conforming to the 6µs time of clock inactivity EA eDIP sometimes sends a byte of unknown value (it’s not an ACK and not a NACK). In UART mode the eDIP sends the ACK/NACK when it’s ready to send it, but in SPI mode eDIP is a slave, and the master dictates the moment for sending the acknowledgement. What value is output when this is done too early?Answer: This is not specified.

2. We suspect there’s some time needed to allow eDIP calculate the checksum of a received message and prepare the ACK/NACK byte. How long must it be?

Furthermore, this time seems to be dependent on the current eDIP CPU load, i.e. processing of previously received messages.Answer: The calculation takes max. 6µs after receiving the last byte (bcc). It does not depend on the current CPU load because the receive interrupt has the highest priority.

3. Can the -SS be asserted throughout the message transfer or must it return high between subsequent bytes (as is shown in the datasheet)?Answer: No, it’s not necessary but we recommend it.

4. Please clarify the meaning of timeout when receiving a command. Is it the time for receiving a complete message, and if it’s not received within this limit it’s dropped?Answer: Yes.

5. How can we upgrade the firmware in the eDIP?Answer: It is not possible to upgrade the firmware.

I need informations on the touch panel EA TOUCH160-1

Question: I just purchased the EA DOGXL160-7 display and a touch panel. I am looking for data sheets on the above-mentioned product. The only thing I could find on your website is the application example for the touch panel which shows how to connect the touch panel to an ATmega AVR processor and nothing else. This application example does not provide any information on how the touch panel works.

Answer: The touch panel EA TOUCH160-1 (which corresponds to the EA DOGXL160-7) is an analog, 4-wire, resistive touch display. As you see, the 4 wires are connected to the 4 edges on the touch panel. When you press on it, there will be an electrical contact between the 2 layers of the touch panel. Your ATmega will do something like this:

(1) Connect 5V to the upper edge and 0V to the lower edge. (2) Read the voltage on the right/left edge (3) Connect 5V to left edge and 0V to the left edge (4) Read the voltage on the upper/lower edge

Example: (2) Read 2.5V and (4) reads 1V

This 2.5V reading tells you that the “key press” was on a horizontal line which is in the middle of the panel. And the second reading 1.0V indicates the “key press” on a vertical line near the right edge. The “key” was pressed on the coordinates where both lines intersect.

The code that goes with it is here, if you search #341: www.atmel.com/dyn/products/app_notes.asp

How to use the touch panel on EA DOGXL160-7 ?

Question: I just purchased the EA DOGXL160-7 display and a touch panel. I am looking for data sheets on the above-mentioned product. The only thing I could find on your website is the application example for the touch panel which shows how to connect the touch panel to an ATmega AVR processor and nothing else. This application example does not provide any information on how the touch panel works.

Answer: The touch panel EA TOUCH160-1 (which corresponds to the EA DOGXL160-7) is an analog, 4-wire, resistive touch display. As you see, the 4 wires are connected to the 4 edges on the touch panel.

When you press on it, there will be an electrical contact between the 2 layers of the touch panel. Your ATmega will do something like this:

(1) Connect 5V to the upper edge and 0V to the lower edge. (2) Read the voltage on the right/left edge (3) Connect 5V to left edge and 0V to the left edge (4) Read the voltage on the upper/lower edge

Example: (2) Read 2.5V and (4) reads 1V

This 2.5V reading tells you that the “key press” was on a horizontal line which is in the middle of the panel. And the second reading 1.0V indicates the “key press” on a vertical line near the right edge. The “key” was pressed on the coordinates where both lines intersect.

Does the EA DOGXL160-7 support grey scale / gray level?

Question: The EA DOGXL uses the UC1610 controller that supports the 2 -bit gray scale. Does the gray scale work with the DOGXL?

Answer: Yes, that’s a good question. Please note that the display also supports the 4 gray levels! It’s simply not mentioned in the data sheet. On the other hand ‒ and this is the reason why we do not promote it ‒ every gray level reduces the contrast. So we suggest preferential use of the full black color, whenever possible. But for some small issues, it may be wise to also use the gray levels , e.g. for a disabled function. But for most display content we suggest using the full black/white option. Here’s the link to the controllers user manual UC1610. Have fun with it!

Horizontal / diagonal lines on the display

Question: I just purchased and received 2 EA DOGM128W-6 displays from Mouser along with 2 white backlights. Upon opening the package, I can see 2 horizontal lines on the front of the displays. Is this normal or are the displays damaged? Will these lines go away once the display is powered up? Not to be confused with the 2 diagonal lines and circle ROHS sticker on the back of the display.

Answer: The black/gray lines indicate that there are protection foils that have to be removed before assembling.

There is a protection foil - On the front side of the display - On the rear side of the display - On the front side of the backlight

Please remove these before mounting and soldering. The RoHS sticker will come off automatically when you pull off the rear side protection foil.

I am looking for a help file while working with the KitEditor/ KitCompiler

Question: I’ve downloaded and unpacked the LCD TOOLS. I’m working with the KitEditor to program my EA eDIP. Is there any help available besides the datasheet?

Answer: Yes, of course. While working with the KitEditor, just press F1. You will get detailed information about the compiler options and the commands. If you need help on how to work with the available commands practically, you will find many examples in the following folder of the LCD TOOLS:

Just select a term you are interested in and open the *.kmi file with the help of the KitEditor. Please feel free to get in touch with us if you need any further help or examples.

¼VGA: power consumption and available controllers

Question: Our factory is looking for a graphics LCD for our prototype. I read somewhere that you sell displays ‒ and I even found the type ‒ 320x240STN with CFL backlight (EA 7320-7.9NC), but I would like to have some technical information about it: I would like to know: 1. Power consumption (with and without a backlight) 2. Power supply (voltage) 3. If it is equipped with a controller (if not ‒ what type of controller does it need and do you have it?) 4. Price of the full kit or parts (I mean the display, controller and backlight)

Answer: Thank you for your e-mail enquiry. Here are answers to your questions. Please note that this data is only valid for the EA 7320-7,9NC:

1. The power supply current at VCC is max. 15mA, at VEE max. 10mA 2. The logic voltage is 5V ±10% and the driving voltage for the contrast is -14..-21V (it depends on the temperature) 3. For driving the LCD you need a controller chip like SED 1330 or MSM 6255 and some drivers, display memory and a decoder. Then you have to write software with graphics routines, fonts ... Furthermore you need a CFL inverter for driving the CFL backlight (e.g. EA CXA-E005 DM 29.00 per pc.) 4. The price for the full featured RS-232 KIT (EA KIT7320-V24) is DM 850.00 per pc. It includes 5 integrated fonts, various graphics functions and an RS-232 interface. The power supply is simply 5V. You no longer need a CFL inverter .

Looking for a display with 2 or 3 lines and about 15-20 char and RS-232

Question: I would like to have more information about your EA KIT240-7. I am also looking for a display unit (probably LCD) that can display 2 or 3 lines and about 15 to 20 characters in each line. This unit should be about 3 to 4cmx10 to 15cm , it should work in dark conditions and I want to control it via an RS-232. If it’s possible please e-mail me this information and also send me the price of these units.

Answer: An English data sheet for the EA KIT240-7 is available for download here (pdf, 1.113KB). A German one is available here. If you are looking for a character LCD with an RS-232 interface, there are many different LCD units that could suit. Here is an overview.